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Police make arrests in Lower Windsor Township trailer arson

By TED CZECH Daily Record/Sunday News

Updated:
04/18/2013 04:13:25 PM EDT

Update, April 18, 1:20 p.m.

Lower Windsor Township Police Chief Tim Caldwell said two males have been arrested in connection with the March 3 fire, in which fireworks were shot into a trailer, killing two dogs and causing severe damage.

After an extensive investigation, which involved search warrants and cellphone records, police made two arrests today in the case, Caldwell said.

Lower Windsor Township Police received help in the case from Pennsylvania State Police and detectives from the York County District Attorney's Office, he said,

Caldwell said the two males knew one of homeowner Gary Lake's sons.

"There appeared to be some rift," between Lake's son and the males, Caldwell said.

Gary Lake, 50, stands with a friend, looking at the burned-out remains of his Lower Windsor Township mobile home on Sunday morning. Lake said someone fired a firework into his home, igniting a fire. Police have called the fire suspicious. (YORK DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS -TED CZECH)

Previous report:

A Lower Windsor Township man said someone shot fireworks into his home early Sunday morning, igniting a fire that destroyed all of his home's contents and killing his two dogs.

Gary Lake, 50, of the 1600 block of Manor Road, said he and his wife, Karen, 46, were sleeping when someone broke the window to their bedroom and began blasting fireworks inside.

"And 'til I got out of bed, everything was lit up," Lake said. "The house was that full of smoke and on fire ... In three minutes, it burnt."

Lake said he and his wife, two of their sons, ages 18 and 16, and a 15-year-old grandson, were able to evacuate safely.

Unfortunately, their two dogs, 9-year-old Buddy and Marley, a puppy, died in the fire, Lake said.

In addition, all of their belongings were destroyed.

"We lost everything; everything's gone," he said.

Lake said he and his family have no idea who could have committed the alleged crime.

"We don't know," he said. "Whoever it was ran over our mailbox. I guess the mailbox was stuck in the car - they (police) found it a mile up the road here."

Lake said the American Red Cross responded and gave them a lodging voucher, which allows them to stay in a hotel for three days.

"After that, I ain't sure," he said.

Lower Windsor Township Police Chief Tim Caldwell said Monday he would not comment on the specifics of the case, saying the fire remains under investigation.

"The fire is definitely suspicious in nature," Caldwell said. "It definitely appears there were some other means present" to start the fire.

His officers were sent to the fire - near Taylor Road and Patton Lane - just before 1:30 a.m. and left the scene about three hours later.

Caldwell said the investigation would be a joint effort between his department and Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Douglas Kelley, who is a fire marshal, because fire investigation is not something his officers deal with on a consistent basis.

"We're going to have to draw on the expertise of the fire marshal," he said.

To help

Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call police at 717-244-8055 or 911.